Hair retainer



Dec. 6, m9 R. A. SMITH 2,490,285

HAIR RETAINER Filed Dec. 10, 1945 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HAIR RETAINER Roy Andrew Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 10, 1945, Serial No. 633,954

2 Claims.

This invention relates to hair retainers and more particularly-to a hairretainer which combines'the advantageous features of a hair pin and ahair comb without the disadvantages of either-..

'1 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a hair retainingmaterial in undefined lengths from which can be formed hair retainersofany' desired lengths to suit the particular requirements of eachindividual hair style and head.

Other Objects of my invention are to provide a hair retainer whichcovers an extended area of the head surface, which will retain the hairin any set position, which is easy to apply and which will bend toconform to the desired curvature of the head or hairdress.

(other objects are to provide a hair retainer which eliminates the useof hair pins or other hair retaining means, which is light in weight andinvisible when set in the hair and which stays in position untilremoved.

Another object is to provide a hair retainer which can be used as a wavemaker or hair setter.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

The hairpins or hair combs of the prior art or present day manufactureare all subject to the disadvantage that it requires a large number ofthem placed throughout the hair to set same. Such pins 'orretainers'become easily removed from the hair, are lost and the hairloses its set position. The combs are objectionable be cause of thelength of the teeth and because they aren'ot pliable and do not lendthemselves to the various curvatures of the head or hair. Furthermorethese are readily visible. With my invention these objectionablefeatures are eliminated and I provide a hair retainer which has greatergripping qualities than the conventional hair or bobby pin, and whichwill cover a substantial area of the head surface similar to a comb butwhich is suflleiently pliable to conform to the curvature of the head orhair and which is virtually invisible. The teeth of my retainer are ofsuch length that it may be inserted in the hair at right angles to thehead or at any other angle and may also be inserted to lie substantiallyflat at the sides of the head at the hair line to retain short strandsof hair. My hair retainer will maintain the hair in its set position andwill not be accidentally removed or lost from the hair.

Fig. 1 is a side elevatlonal view of my hair 2 retaining materialshowing for illustrative purposes only a few of the unlimited shapesinto which it can be shaped or formed when set in the hair, and showingthe teeth in actual size.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a few of the teeth of my improvedhair retainer, and

Fig. 3 shows the application of various lengths of my hair retainer asapplied to one form of hair dress.

My hair retaining materially generally indicated at I0 is formed of asingle continuous strand of thin flexible wire l2 preferably of a .013gauge tempered to permit the necessary pliability, resiliency andlightness of weight. A plastic strand having the same characteristics asto pliability, resiliency and weight might be used in lieu of wire. Thestrand is formed to provide a plurality of equally spaced teeth M. Theteeth l4 are formed by reversing the wire strand upon itself andtwisting so as to provide the entwining helical strands 56 extending themajor length of the tooth, with the bottom thereof forming an eyeletportion I8 and a rounded point 2i). The eyelet opening 22 of each toothis positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis L-L of the retainer.All the teeth and the circumferences of the eyelets are in the samevertical plane with the top of the retainer. The top, adjacent each pairof teeth is arched as shown at 24.

The twisted portion l6 and the eyelets l8 both serve to keep theretainer firmly in the hair after it is inserted. The twisted portion l6extending the major length of the tooth grips the hair, and the eyeletopenings 22 tend to receive the strands of hair in them as well as gripthe hair between adjacent eyelets.

When the retainer is curved or arched as shown at 26 in the lower end ofFig. l, the eyelet portions will be brought close together and also willtouch each other depending on the degree of curvature. With the strandsof hair in, about and between the teeth and their eyelet portions theretainer is securely positioned in the hair to hold same set positionand against accidental removal.

The arch-ed shapes 24 at the top between each pair of teeth will presenta broken line when the retainer is inserted in the hair. This and thefact that the retainer is formed of a thin flexible wire with the topthereof in a single strand will make it virtually invisible to anobserver. To more positively avoid any detection of the retainer, Icolor the retainer to match any shade of hair. Therefore I propose that3 the retainers be made in various colors and shades and so marketed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown retainers of various lengths. Theretainer mark-ed A is of a greater length than those marked B or C andis positioned in this style of hair dress substantially vertically alongone side of the head and in a tortuous shape. The retainer marked B of ashorter length serves in this instance to hold the-front. wave in setposition land, due to the shape of the'wave assumes a fan shape. Ashorter retainer marked C maintains a straight line position to hold aroll on the top of the head in set position. The retainer marked D gispositioned adjacent the hair line 30 with the teeth of the retainerlying flat adjaeent the si'de' of the head. The teeth of the retainersAiBand C will in the hairdress shown be at right angles to the head orsubstantially so. Thepliability and flexibility of the retainer permitsit to assume substantially any shape and on. any-plane ion the; headthus very easily adjusting-itself .to ,-the;head: or thehair coifiure.It-can;be.inserted sosas to lie transversely-or longitudinally of thehead or any other position to suit-the particular hair-dress.

;In Fig. 1 I have shown my hairretaining mate- .rial of anundefinedlength. Thiscan-bebroken or cut into definite lengths by theuser to suit particular requirements. The shapeshown in Fig. llis .forillustrative purposes only:and it. is not intended that .when i made :inundefined lengths that such shape be assumed. ,In packaging such lengthsit most likelywill be ina continuous fan shape,.similar to the. shapeshown in the top of Fig.1.

In addition toga strip of undefined length, my vhair retainers canbemadeinto definite. lengths, similar to the lengths used "infFig.."3 orother lengths which will meet the greatest requirements and soldin sets.In such instances ,the "wearer would use the le ngth or leng ths to fither style of hair dress. By provid ing retainers of different lengthsit'is readilypossible to set any style of hair:and two retainers areusually sufiicient-to cover a complete head-of hair. The length of theretainer can vary. "I have found *that teeth approximately of an inchinlength are the most satisfactory.

While the retainer-wheninserted in the hair --will assume any shapedepending upon the head or the wavesor rollsof-the hair, it will when:removed from the hair resume its originally .formed-'shape,whether thatbe in a fan shape or straight line if so originally forme'd.

- The light weight oftthe retainerwill permit it to be worn without thewearer beingconscious .of it-and the .positive set position will permittainer, the hair can be set as long a period as desired for the retaineris invisible and the wearer gcan; make a public appearance without thedisadvantages inherent in the use of present day retainers.

'j[!i e. ,i 1sepf; a f'evv of my retainers in the hair is as effectiveas a hairnet in retaining the hair in--its set position. The fact thateach retainer covers an extended area eliminates the necessity ;ofseveral settings -atidifferent pointslon the .head and zone.adjustmentwill suflice. Thechairscan .beset without the; aid ofamirrorsmndsettings.by aaprofessional hair dressersare. eliminated.

It will be understood that various changesand modifications can be madeewithout departing fromthe spirit and,scope -0f- -my invention.

"1 claim:

flexible h .xe ei eniormed-ota on l i ls eme s n h vin i l-z ra tx-p e eof substantially equal length, adjacent teeth being 'ioi e by a nn e iner -s i s ra .bei .fine and elasticand of such fiex ibilitwthat the o n sr wi d s b ant al y i ltq s e e and bending forceswhile-beinginserted-in the hair .withoutgoing beyond its-elastic limitazid having insufficient rigidity. to ade' forrn thefh air when inserted,said' retainer, being su'mciently flexible. so that it maybe ,be'ntviintany shape within and .into. anyQplaneand which-maybe i r h r n a ny an e1X a l fli i said retainer having so little body that. wheninserted inthe hair it assumes the shape ofi ithe wave or curls desired.

2. The structure of 'claiml, wherein said retainer has .an indefinitelength and .is readily severable at any desired'lengthfon providing anydesired retainer length unit.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileo'fthis patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS ou t y Date

